- Date
- June 4, 1994, 19:00 local (Jun 5, 1994, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Levant, KS
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2344TAir Tractor AT-301
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 12, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940604013809A
- Case key
- 9562
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate evaluation of weather conditions associated with known thunderstorm activity. Factors were the thunderstorm and downdrafts.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was making a swath run when he realized that the airplane's performance was degrading. He added full power, flaps, and dumped his load of chemicals, but was unable to maintain flight. He stated that a thunderstorm was located five to seven miles north-northeast of his location.
Factual narrative
On June 4, 1994, at 1900 mountain daylight time an Air Tractor, Inc., AT-301, N2344T, registered to Dan Barker of Brewster, Kansas, and operated by a commercial pilot, impacted the terrain and was destroyed by impact and a post accident fire while conducting an aerial application. The pilot reported minor injuries. The CFR 14 Part 137 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The local flight departed Brewster, Kansas, at approximately 1840.
The pilot stated that during the first swath run he noticed that the airplane performed poorly as he rolled the airplane out onto a north heading.
He stated there was a thunderstorm approximately 5-7 miles north and east of his location. He stated he felt he was experiencing a downdraft and attempted to level the wings. He added full power, full RPM, flaps and then dumped his load of chemicals in an attempt to maintain flight; however, these were unsuccessful in maintaining flight. He stated that he attempted to land wings level; however, the left wing collided with the terrain first followed by the nose gear. He stated that when the airplane came to rest a fire had begun and shortly after he exited the airplane it was consumed in the fire.
The pilot indicated that there was a light rain occurring at the time of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2344T
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 301-0387
- Airframe hours
- 2,786
- Engine
- P&W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Barker, Dan
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 10, 1993 · 150 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Brewster, KS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 7,200 total · 1,800 in this make and model · 7,000 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GLD, 18 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2344T · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.